Perforate table



May 30, 1939. w. F. OHME 2,160,031

' PERFORATE TABLE Filed Feb. 1, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l ammo/WM Walter FOhme Patented May 30, 1939 UNITED STATES PERFORATE- TABLE Walter F.Ohme, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to North Star Specialty &Manufacturing Company, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of MinnesotaApplication February 1, 1937, Serial No. 123,380

3 Claims.

' My invention relates to perforate tables and particularly to tablesfor use in supporting drinking vessels or other dishes which are beingwashed by means of sprays of water which pass through the table frombeneath and wash the vessels while resting upon the table.

An object of the invention resides in providing a perforate table whichwill offer a minimum amount of resistance to the flow of water throughthe same.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a perforate tableby means of which more thorough washing of the drinking vessels carriedby the same can be procured.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a perforatetable constructed so that the supporting surface thereof will contactwith the vessels over a minimum area.

' Another object of the invention resides in con- 20 structing the tablewith spaced supporting mem- 30 bers for holding the same in properspaced relation.

A still further object of the invention resides in forming thesupporting members circular and of difierent diameters and in arrangingthe same 5 in concentric relation.

An object of the invention resides in arranging the tie members inradial relation with respect to the supporting members. 7 I

Another object of the invention resides in the specific construction ofthe jointsbetween the sup-porting members and tie members. and thejoints at the ends of the supporting members.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterillustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a medial elevational sectional View of a machine for washingdrinking vessels illustrating a perforate table embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the table detached from the machine.

Fig; 3 is a perspective view of one of the circular supporting membersof the table shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4. is a perspective view of one of the tie members of the tableshown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an inverted perspective view of a por-, tion'of the structureshown in Fig. 2 with one of the tie members detached from the supportingmembers.

In order to more fully explain the application and operation of theinvention my improved table has been shown as embodied in a machine forwashing drinking vessels and only so much thereof as will be needed toexplain the instant invention will be described.

The machine for washing drinking vessels herein illustrated comprises ahousing which I have indicated in its entirety by the referencecharacter A and in which the mechanism of the machine is disposed. TheWashing mechanism of the invention comprises a revoluble rack B of I D.These various parts will now be more fully described.

The housing A consists of a tray l0 circular in form which isconstructed with a bottom ll having a rim l2 extending upwardlytherefrom. The bottom is preferably sloping toward the forward portionof the tray where a drain I3 is provided by means of which the waterdischarged intothe housing may be removed from the device. 'At the outermargin of the bottom II is provided a ledge M which elevates the bottomll above the surface on which the machine rests. This ledge may, ifdesired, be formed in continuation of the rim l 2 of said tray. The trayI0 is constructed as a casting or the same may be spun from sheet metalor constructed in any other suitable manner. The housing A furthercomprises a circular wall l5, which is secured to the rim of the tray l0and extends upwardly therefrom. The lower edge of this wall rests in arecess i'i formed in said rim. The wall I5 is preferably attached tosaid rim through small bolts [6 which pass through suitable openings inboth said rim and wall. Upon the upper end of the wall I5 is, placed acover or closure l8 which is circular throughout the extent thereof.This closure is provided with a flange 20 which extends downwardlytherefrom and which terminates at its lower end in a lip 2| by means ofwhich the closure may be secured to the wall 15. This is accomplishedthrough bolts 22 which pass jointly through said wall and lip the sameas the bolts IS. 'The wall I5 is of lesser circular extent than acomplete circle so that an opening 23 is provided at the front of thehousing through which access may be had to the interior thereof and tothe drinking vessels placed upon the rack B mounted therein.

The rack B consists of a perforate table 24 which constitutes theinvention. This table is constructed with a number of circularly formedconcentrically arranged rings 25, 26, 21, 28, 29, 3t, 3!, 32 and 33. Therings 26 to 32 inclusive are all constructed in the same manner and therings 25 and 33 are similarly constructed in the same manner. Thedescription of the rings 25 and 26 will hence only be given.

All of the rings as shown in the drawings are constructed from flatstrips of metal such as is known in the trade under the name of flatwire, which is formed with flat sides and with slightly rounded edges.For the sake of simplicity the rings have been shown in the drawings asbeing rectangular, whereas in actuality the corners are slightlyrounded. It can, however, be readily comprehended that square corners,such as shown may be employed instead of the rounded edges referred to.

The ring 25 is of the greatest diameter and is formed at one end with adovetailed slot 35. The other end of the said ring is constructed with adovetailed tongue 36 which is adapted to flt in the slot 35 and to forma lock joint for the end of the ring. All of the other rings aresimilarly constructed with like joints of which only certain of saidjoints have been shown in the drawings. At suitable intervals throughoutthe peripheral extent of the ring 25 the same is constructed withpunched rectangular openings 34 which extend completely through thesame. These openings are preferably equally spaced and in the instantcase six of such openings are employed.

The rings 26 to 32 inclusive are of slightly less width than the rings25 and 33 and are so disposed that the rings 25 and 33 form guards toprevent the glasses or dishes from sliding off from the rack.

The ring 26 as shown in Fig. 3 is constructed at one end with adovetailed slot 31 and at its other end with a dovetailed tongue 38which fits into the same and forms a joint for the ring the same as thejoint for the ring 25. This ring is constructed with a number of notches39 which extend through the lower edge of the ring and upwardly to thecenter of the ring. These notches are equally spaced and there are asmany of the said notches as there are openings 34 in the ring 25.

In conjunction with the various rings a number of tie members 4!, 42,43, 44, 45 and 46 are employed which are all identical in construction.Only tie member 4! has been illustrated in detail in the drawings whichwill be described. This tie member is constructed of flat wire the sameas the rings, but is straight and of a Width equal to the width of therings 26, 21, etc. This tie member is constructed at one end with atongue 4? which provides shoulders 48 at the end of the strip adjacentsaid tongue. The other end of the strip is similarly constructed with atongue 5! providing shoulders 52 adjacent the same. Intermediate theends of the strip are provided notches 53 in the uppermost portionthereof which are of a depth equal to half the width of the strip andof. a width equal to the thickness of the material from which the rings26 to 32 are constructed. The tongues 41 and 5| are of such dimensionsas to be snugly received within the openings 34 in the rings 25 and 33.

Before assembling the parts of the table, the various rings are firstconnected together at their ends and the joints between the ends of therings preferably soldered. The outer ring 25 is first assembled upon theends of the tie members 4! to 46 with the tongues 4'! received withinthe openings 34 and with the shoulders 48 bearing upon the inner surfaceof this ring. The inner ring 33 is then similarly applied with thetongues 5| received within the openings 34 and the shoulders 52 bearingagainst the outer surface of said ring. Tongues 4'5 and 5! are nextriveted over so that the parts become securely attached to one another.The rings 23 to 32 are next successively assembled one at a time bybringing the notches 39 thereof into cooperation with notches 53 of tiemembers 4% to 43. After all of the rings have been assembled the jointsare closed either by soldering, riveting or otherwise to provide aunitary structure in which all of the parts are firmly secured togetherand in which the supporting surfaces thereof consist of, the edges ofthe various supporting members or rings.

It will be noted that all of the edges of the supporting members 26 to32 inclusive lie in a common plane, while the edges of the members 25and 33 extend upwardly from said plane to form guards for preventing thedrinking vessels from sliding off from theta'ble.

The table 24 is rotatably supported on a spider 6! which comprises acentral tubular hub 52 connected to a circular flange 60 throughradially extending arms 63. The hub of this spider has mounted in itball bearings 54 and 65 which are disposed at the upper and lower endsof the same. In the center of the bottom ll of tray 29 is provided aboss 65 which has secured to it through a set screw 51 an upwardlyextending post 68. Post 68 is turned to receive the inner races of thetwo bearings 54 and 55. By means of these two bearings the spider Si isrotatabl; mounted. A cap 69 secured to the upper end of the hub 62covers the bearing 64 and prevents the entry of water into said bearingsfrom above. The table 24 rests upon arms 1! extending outwardly from theflange 60 of spider 5i and is centered with respect to the axis thereof.through said flange. The flange is of such dimensions as to snuglyreceive the inner ring 33 of the table 24.

It will be noted that flange 65 extends above the surface of the table24 and assists in preventing articles positioned on said table fromtraveling inwardly off the table. To further serve this purpose a guard12 is employed which is constructed from sheet metal bent in cylindricalform with a curvature substantially equal to the curvature of the flange35. This guard is bolted to a mounting J3 by means of bolts 14 and maybe easily removed when access into the interior of the machine isdesired. Mounting 13 is soldered or otherwise secured to the cover I8.

Inasmuch as the water motor C and the power transmission associatedtherewith form no particular feature of this invention, these parts havenot been shown in detail. The water motor C is, however, constructedwith a water wheel E5 which through a suitable train of gearing drives afriction pinion 16. This friction pinion engages a friction gear 17formed by the inner surface of the flange 60 of spider Bl.

The spraying device D consists of a series of sprays 18 which aredisposed above the rack B and another series of sprays 19 which aredisposed below said rack. These sprays are interconnected by tubes 8|and are fed by a number of tubes 82 which are connected to a valve0perated control mechanism 83 whereby hot and cold water are furnishedto the sprays. This construction forming no feature of the invention hasnot been shown in the drawings, though it can readily be comprehendedthat a construction such as shown in the application for patent ofWalter F. Ohme and Ray C. Stephan, Serial Number 741,078, filed August23, 1934 may be used for the purpose.

The operation of the invention is as follows: As the water motor 0operates rack B is rotated and the table 24 resting on the arms Hthereof travel with it. Glasses, drinking vessels or other dishes areplaced upon the rack through the opening 23 in housing A and the samerotate slowly through the machine. As the glasses or drinking vesselsupon the table 24 pass the sprays l8 and I9 hot or cold water as desiredis sprayed upon the interior and exterior thereof. The sprays of waterfrom the sprays 19 pass between the rings 25 to 32 of table 24 and washthe drinking vessels upon the interior thereof. Due

to the fact that the rings are constructed of flat wire a very smallamount of resistance to the passage of water through the table results,whereby the full force of the water is directed against the drinkingvessels and the same effectively cleaned. As the same time water isdirected substantially to the entire interior area of the vessels, sincethe table ofiers a minimum amount of blocking to the passage of water.Due to the fact that the supporting members of the table are constructedof flat wire, point contact between the table and drinking vesselsresults so that only a minimum portion of the vessels are not subject tothe cleansing action of the sprays. The result is that the glasses arealmost perfectly washed when the same pass through the machine. I havefound that a certain amount of vibration is set up in the machine whichcauses the glasses to slightly shift positions. Due to this fact theengaged portion of the vessels is varied so that all portions thereofmay be thoroughly washed.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. Washing of drinking vesselsis accomplished in a minimum length of time and with a minimum amount ofwater. A minimum amount of obstruction to the flow of water through thetable is effected so that the desired results are readily attained. Myimproved tab-1e is considerably stronger than a cast table or a tableconstructed of round wire and has the added feature of minimum blockingof the travel of water through the same.

Changes in the specific form of my invention,

supporting members having openings extending therethrough and disposedin alignment with said notches, tie members constructed of fiat stripsprovided with upwardly extending notches engaging the notches of saidsupporting members, and tongues on the ends of said tie members enteringsaid openings.

2. A perforate table for use in a washing machine including a centralsupporting hub with a rim extending about the same, said tablecomprising a plurality of supporting members in excess of three,constructed of flat strips bent in the form of circles of diiferentdiameters, said strips being arranged on edge in spaced concentricrelation, the intermediate of said supporting members having aligningradially downwardly extending notches therein, the innermost of saidsupporting members having openings extending therethrough and disposedin alignment with said notches, tie members constructed of flat stripsprovided with upwardly extending notches engaging the notches in saidintermediate supporting members and tongues on the ends of said tiemembers entering said openings, said innermost supporting member restingon said rim and receiving stresses transmitted from the intermediatesupporting members through said tie members.

3. A perforate table comprising a plurality of supporting members inexcess of three constructed of flat strips bent in the form of circlesof different diameters, said strips being arranged on edge in spacedconcentric relation, the intermediate of said supporting members havingaligning radially downwardly extending notches therein, and theoutermost and innermost of said supporting members having openingsextending therethrough and disposed in alignment with said notches, tiemembers provided with upwardly extending notches engaging the notches ofsaid intermediate supporting members, and tongues on the ends of saidtie members entering said openings, said intermediate supporting membersbeing arranged with their edges in a common plane and said outersupporting member being of greater width than the intermediatesupporting members and extending above the same to form a rim and tostrengthen the outer portion of the table due to the weakening thereofcaused by said openings.

WALTER F. OHME.

